U.S. patent application number 11/202002 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge.
Invention is credited to Jacek Pytlik.
Application Number | 20070036564 11/202002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37742657 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070036564 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pytlik; Jacek |
February 15, 2007 |
Apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
Abstract
An apparatus, a system and a method are provided for testing a
cartridge. The apparatus and/or the system is attached and/or is
connected to the printer containing the cartridge via a port of the
printer. The apparatus and/or the system communicates with and/or
controls the printer. The apparatus and/or the system transmits a
signal to the printer. The printer prints one or more pages of
paper to test a quality, an effectiveness, a longevity and/or a
durability of the toner cartridge. A user inspects and/or reviews
one or more pages of paper printed by the cartridge to determine
the quality, the effectiveness, the longevity and/or the durability
of the toner cartridge.
Inventors: |
Pytlik; Jacek; (Arlington
Heights, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patents+TMS;A Professional Corporation
2849 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago
IL
60647
US
|
Family ID: |
37742657 |
Appl. No.: |
11/202002 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 15/0855 20130101;
G03G 15/0848 20130101; G03G 15/0865 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
399/027 |
International
Class: |
G03G 15/08 20060101
G03G015/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect
wherein the printer has a port wherein the defect of the cartridge
is identified by a yield test and a post test, the apparatus
comprising: a housing having walls defining an interior wherein the
housing has an exterior surface; a logical device within the
interior of the housing wherein a power source supplies a voltage
to the logical device wherein the logical device is programmed to
instruct the printer to perform the yield test and the pulse test;
a user interface located on the exterior surface of the housing
wherein the user interface is connected to the logical device
wherein the yield test or the post test is selected with the user
interface and further wherein the logical device is programmed to
produce a signal corresponding to the yield test and the post test;
and a connector on the exterior surface of the housing wherein the
connector connects to the logical device wherein the logical device
communicates with the printer via the connector and the port of the
printer wherein the signal is transmitted from the logical device
to the printer via the connector and the port of the printer and
further wherein the cartridge prints a page of paper based on the
signal from the logical device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery
located within the interior of the housing or an AC adapter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connector is a cable
configured to be insertable into the port of the printer.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein the connector emits
infrared light.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a controller on the
exterior surface of the housing to connect the power source and the
logical device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a light emitting
diode on the exterior surface of the housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface has at least
one button corresponding to the yield test and the post test.
8. A system for testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect
wherein the printer has a port wherein the printer performs a test
to identify the defect of the cartridge wherein a page of paper is
printed by the cartridge based on the tests, the system comprising:
a housing having walls defining an interior wherein the housing has
an exterior surface; a logical device within the interior of the
housing wherein the logical device is programmed to instruct the
printer to perform the tests; a battery within the interior of the
housing wherein the battery provides a voltage to the logical
device; a user interface on the exterior surface of the housing
wherein the user interface is connected to the logical device
wherein one of the tests is selected with the user interface and
further wherein a signal corresponding to one of the tests is
produced by the logical device; and a connector on the exterior
surface of the housing wherein the connector is connected to the
logical device wherein the signal from the logical device is
transmitted to the printer via the connector and the port of the
printer and further wherein the printer executes one of the tests
based on the signal.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the tests are a yield test and a
post test.
10. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a controller
connecting the battery to the logical device.
11. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a light emitting
diode located on the exterior surface of the housing wherein the
light emitting diode is controlled by the logical device.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the connector emits infrared
light.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the connector is configured to be
insertable into the port of the printer.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the battery is rechargeable or
replaceable.
15. A method for testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect
wherein the printer has a port wherein the defect of the cartridge
is identified by a post test or a yield test, the method comprising
the steps of: providing a housing having walls defining an interior
wherein the housing has an exterior surface wherein a logical
device is located within the interior of the housing wherein a user
interface is located on the exterior surface of the housing wherein
the user interface is connected to the logical device; providing a
voltage to the logical device wherein the voltage is continuous and
uninterrupted; programming the logical device to instruct the
printer to execute the post test and the yield test; and
transmitting a signal from the logical device to the printer via
the port of the printer wherein the signal corresponds to the post
test or the yield test and further wherein the signal instructs the
printer to execute the post test or the yield test.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
selecting the post test or the yield test with the user
interface.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
controlling the voltage to the logical device.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: printing
a page of paper based on the signal from the logical device.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
identifying the defect of the cartridge.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: testing
the cartridge with the yield test and the post test.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a
system and a method for testing a cartridge. More specifically, the
present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method
for testing a cartridge, such as, for example, a toner cartridge
that may have toner therein. The toner cartridge may be inserted
into and/or used in conjunction with, for example, a printer, a
telefax machine and/or a photocopier. The apparatus and/or the
system may be attached to the printer via a port on the printer.
The apparatus and/or the system may have a programmable logical
device which may communicate and/or may control the printer and/or
the cartridge. The programmable logical device may transmit and/or
may communicate a signal to the printer. As a result, the printer
and the toner cartridge may pulse and/or may print one or more
pages of paper to test the toner cartridge. Further, the printer
may perform and/or may execute a yield test. A user may inspect
and/or may review one or more printed test pages to determine a
quality and/or an effectiveness of the toner cartridge.
[0002] It is generally known that a toner cartridge may be filled
with and/or have toner within a toner hopper. The toner cartridge
may be new, used, emptied, recharged and/or refilled. The toner
cartridge may have been assembled incorrectly and/or one or more
elements of the toner cartridge may be defective. The toner
cartridge may be inserted into the printer for testing of a
quality, an effectiveness, a longevity and/or a durability of the
toner cartridge.
[0003] The printer may have a port, such as, for example, a
universal serial bus (USB) port, a centronics port, a line printer
terminal (LPT) port or the like. A central processing unit (CPU) or
a portable handheld device may be connectable and/or may be
attachable to the printer via the port of the printer. The CPU or
the portable handheld device may transmit and/or may communicate a
signal to the printer. The signal may be in an operating language,
such as, for example, a printer command language (PCL), graphics
device interface language (GDI), post-script language or the like.
The printer may understand and/or may recognize the operating
language and the signal may instruct and/or may control the
printer. As a result, the printer may test the quality, the
effectiveness, the longevity and/or the durability of the toner
cartridge by printing one or more test pages of paper. Each of the
test pages of paper may have toner printed thereon by the cartridge
of the printer.
[0004] However, the CPU or the portable handheld device may be
configured to only connect to a specific type of port, such as, for
example, the USB port of the printer. If the printer does not have
a USB port, the CPU or the portable handheld device is not
connectable, is not attachable to and/or is not in communication
with the printer. Moreover, the printer may only understand, may
only recognize and/or may only operate with a specific operating
language, such as, for example, the PCL language. If the CPU or the
portable handheld device does not send a signal to the printer in
the PCL language, the printer may not understand and/or may not
recognize the signal from the CPU or the portable handheld device.
The printer may not be controlled and/or may not be in
communication with the CPU or the portable handheld device. As a
result, the printer may not print one or more test pages of paper
to test the toner cartridge.
[0005] The CPU and/or the portable handheld device may instruct the
printer to perform and/or to execute a post test or a yield test in
the operational language of the printer. The post test may instruct
the printer to print, for example, a single page of paper, three
pages of paper, four pages of paper, five-hundred pages of paper,
one-thousand pages of paper or five-thousand pages of paper. The
yield test may instruct the printer to print, for example, a black
page or a colored page of paper, a gray page of paper, a page of
paper containing text, a blank page of paper, a five-percent
blackened page or a five-percent colored page of paper, a
thirty-percent blackened page or a thirty-percent colored page of
paper or a page of paper containing more than one color. The pulse
test and/or the yield test may test the quality, the effectiveness,
the longevity and/or the durability of the toner cartridge.
However, the CPU or the portable handheld device may only be able
to instruct the printer to perform a single test, such as, for
example, the pulse test. As a result, the CPU or the portable
handheld device may not be able to instruct the printer to perform
both the pulse test and the yield test, and the printer may not
test the toner cartridge.
[0006] The portable handheld device may operate from electrical
power provided by the printer. The CPU may operate from electrical
power provided from, for example, an electrical power outlet on a
wall. An interruption in the electrical power of the portable
handheld device and/or the CPU may cause an interruption in a
buffering performed by the printer. As a result, the printer, the
CPU and/or the portable handheld device may stop and/or may prevent
the printer from completing the post test and/or the yield test.
The CPU, the printer and/or the portable handheld device may
require disassembly and/or may require rest to be operational after
the interruption in the electrical power. As a result, use of the
CPU and/or the portable handheld device to test the toner cartridge
may be inconvenient, and/or the printer may not complete the test
of the toner cartridge.
[0007] A need, therefore, exists for an apparatus, a system and a
method for testing a cartridge which performs the post test and/or
the yield test to test the quality, the effectiveness, the
longevity and/or the durability of the toner cartridge.
Additionally, a need exists for an apparatus and/or a system for
testing a cartridge which may be connectable and/or attachable to
the port of the printer. Further, a need exists for an apparatus, a
system and a method for testing a cartridge which may transmit, may
communicate and/or may send a signal or a transmission to the
printer in the operating language of the printer. Still further, a
need exists for an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a
cartridge which may prevent the interruption of the electrical
power provided to the apparatus or the system and/or may prevent
the interruption of the buffering performed by the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a
system and a method for testing a toner cartridge. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus, a
system and a method for testing a quality, an effectiveness, a
longevity and/or a durability of the toner cartridge. The apparatus
and/or the system may be connectable and/or may be attachable to a
printer containing the toner cartridge via a port of the printer.
The apparatus and/or the system may be in communication with and/or
in control of the printer via the port on an external surface of
the printer. The apparatus and/or the system may have a
programmable logic device which may control the printer and/or may
transmit a signal to the printer in an operating language of the
printer. The signal may instruct the printer to test the toner
cartridge by performing and/or by executing a post test and/or a
yield test. As a result, the printer may print one or more pages of
paper to test the toner cartridge. A user may inspect and/or may
review one or more pages printed by the toner cartridge of the
printer to determine, the quality, the effectiveness, the longevity
and/or the durability of the toner cartridge.
[0009] To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, an
apparatus for testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect wherein
the printer has a port wherein the defect of the cartridge is
identified by a yield test and a post test is provided. The
apparatus has a housing having walls defining an interior wherein
the housing has an exterior surface. Further, the apparatus has a
logical device within the interior of the housing wherein a power
source supplies a voltage to the logical device wherein the logical
device is programmed to instruct the printer to perform the yield
test and the post test. Still further, the apparatus has a user
interface located on the exterior surface of the housing wherein
the user interface is connected to the logical device wherein the
yield test or the post test is selected with the user interface and
further wherein the logical device is programmed to produce a
signal corresponding to the yield test and the post test. Moreover,
the apparatus has a connector on the exterior surface of the
housing wherein the connector connects to the logical device
wherein the logical device communicates with the printer via the
connector and the port of the printer wherein the signal is
transmitted from the logical device to the printer via the
connector and the port of the printer and further wherein the
cartridge prints a page of paper based on the signal from the
logical device.
[0010] In an embodiment, the power source is a battery located
within the interior of the housing or an AC adapter.
[0011] In an embodiment, the connector is a cable configured to be
insertable into the port of the printer.
[0012] In an embodiment, the connector emits infrared light.
[0013] In an embodiment, the apparatus has a controller on the
exterior surface of the housing to connect the power source and the
logical device.
[0014] In an embodiment, the apparatus has a light emitting diode
on the exterior surface of the housing.
[0015] In an embodiment, the user interface has at least one button
corresponding to the yield test and the post test.
[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for
testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect wherein the printer
has a port wherein the printer performs a test to identify the
defect of the cartridge wherein a page of paper is printed by the
cartridge based on the tests is provided. The system has a housing
having walls defining an interior wherein the housing has an
exterior surface and a logical device within the interior of the
housing wherein the logical device is programmed to instruct the
printer to perform the tests. Further, the system has a battery
within the interior of the housing wherein the battery provides a
voltage to the logical device and a user interface on the exterior
surface of the housing wherein the user interface is connected to
the logical device wherein one of the tests is selected with the
user interface and further wherein a signal corresponding to one of
the tests is produced by the logical device. Moreover, the system
has a connector on the exterior surface of the housing wherein the
connector is connected to the logical device wherein the signal
from the logical device is transmitted to the printer via the
connector and the port of the printer and further wherein the
printer executes one of the tests based on the signal.
[0017] In an embodiment, the tests are a yield test and a post
test.
[0018] In an embodiment, the system has a controller connecting the
battery to the logical device.
[0019] In an embodiment, the system has a light emitting diode
located on the exterior surface of the housing wherein the light
emitting diode is controlled by the logical device.
[0020] In an embodiment, the connector emits infrared light.
[0021] In an embodiment, the connector is configured to be
insertable into the port of the printer.
[0022] In an embodiment, the battery is rechargeable or
replaceable.
[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for
testing a cartridge in a printer for a defect wherein the printer
has a port wherein the defect of the cartridge is identified by a
post test or a yield test is provided. The method has the step of
providing a housing having walls defining an interior wherein the
housing has an exterior surface wherein a logical device is located
within the interior of the housing wherein a user interface is
located on the exterior surface of the housing wherein the user
interface is connected to the logical device. Further, the method
has the steps of providing a voltage to the logical device wherein
the voltage is continuous and uninterrupted and programming the
logical device to instruct the printer to execute the post test and
the yield test. Moreover, the method has the step of transmitting a
signal from the logical device to the printer via the port of the
printer wherein the signal corresponds to the post test or the
yield test and further wherein the signal instructs the printer to
execute the post test or the yield test.
[0024] In an embodiment, the method has the step of selecting the
post test or the yield test with the user interface.
[0025] In an embodiment, the method has the step of controlling the
voltage to the logical device.
[0026] In an embodiment, the method has the step of printing a page
of paper based on the signal from the logical device.
[0027] In an embodiment, the method has the step of identifying the
defect of the cartridge.
[0028] In an embodiment, the method has the step of testing the
cartridge with the yield test and the post test.
[0029] It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a
cartridge.
[0030] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which may
test a quality, an effectiveness, a longevity and/or a durability
of the cartridge.
[0031] And, another advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
which may be attachable and/or may be connectable to a printer
containing and/or housing the cartridge.
[0032] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which
may be configured to be connectable to one or more ports of the
printer.
[0033] A further advantage of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which
may transmit, may communicate and/or may send a signal to a
printer.
[0034] Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
which may transmit a signal in an operating language of a
printer.
[0035] And, another advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
which may instruct a printer to perform and/or to execute a pulse
test and/or a yield test to test the cartridge.
[0036] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which
may be a portable handheld device.
[0037] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which may
not interrupt a buffering performed by a printer while testing the
cartridge.
[0038] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge which
may prevent an interruption of an electrical power being supplied
to the apparatus and/or the system.
[0039] A still further advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing which may
have an independent power source within the apparatus and/or the
system.
[0040] Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
which may provide a rechargeable or a replaceable battery within
the apparatus and/or the system.
[0041] And, another advantage of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus, a system and a method for testing a cartridge
which may provide one or more light emitting diodes to indicate
that a test has been selected.
[0042] Additional features and advantages of the present invention
are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed
description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a black box diagram of a system for
testing a cartridge in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus
attachable to a printer in an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a user interface of an
apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a
system and a method for testing a cartridge. More specifically, the
present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method
for testing a toner cartridge which has toner in a toner hopper.
The apparatus and/or the system may be attached and/or may be
connected to the printer containing the toner cartridge via a port
on the printer. The apparatus and/or the system may communicate,
may instruct and/or may control the printer. The apparatus and/or
the system may transmit and/or may communicate a signal and/or a
transmission to the printer. As a result, the printer may print one
or more pages of paper to test the toner cartridge. A user may
inspect and/or may review a consistency of toner on and/or an
appearance of one or more pages of paper that may be printed by the
toner cartridge to determine a quality, an effectiveness, a
longevity and/or a durability of the toner cartridge.
[0047] Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to
like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a black box diagram of a system 2
for testing a cartridge 10 in an embodiment of the present
invention. The cartridge 10 may be, for example, new, used,
emptied, recharged and/or refilled. The cartridge 10 may be a
Hewlett Packard (hereinafter "HP") toner cartridge, such as, for
example, a HP C4096A cartridge, a HP C4127X cartridge, a HP C8061A
cartridge, a HP C8061X cartridge, a HP C2147A cartridge, a HP 8061A
cartridge, a HP Q2610A cartridge and/or the like. Alternatively,
the cartridge 10 may be a Canon toner cartridge, such as, for
example, a Canon L50 cartridge, a Canon FX6 cartridge and/or the
like. It should be understood that the cartridge 10 may be any
toner cartridge used with, for example, a computer printer, a
photocopier, a digital copier, a digital photograph printer, a
telefax machine and/or the like.
[0048] The cartridge 10 may be filled with and/or may have toner
therein. The cartridge 10 may be inserted into, may be used in
conjunction with and/or may be housed within a printer 12. The
printer 12 may be utilized to test a quality, an effectiveness, a
longevity and/or a durability of the cartridge 10. The printer 12
may have a port 14, such as, for example, a universal serial bus
port (hereinafter "the USB port"), a centronics port, a line
printer terminal port (hereinafter "the LPT port"), an infrared
port (hereinafter "the IR port"), a radio frequency port, a
wireless port, a wire network port and/or the like. The printer 12
may have a processing unit 13 which may be connected to and/or may
be in communication with the port 14. The processing unit 13 may
control and/or may instruct the cartridge 10 to print one or more
pages of paper to test the cartridge 10. As a result, the printer
12 and the cartridge 10 may print one or more pages of paper. The
processing unit 13 of the printer 12 may understand, may
recognized, may identify and/or may receive a signal or a
transmission in an operating language, such as, for example, a
printer command language (hereinafter "the PCL language"), a
graphics device interface language (hereinafter "the GDI
language"), a post-script language and/or the like. The present
invention should not be deemed as limited to the embodiments of a
specific port 14 and/or a specific operating language of the
processing unit 13.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an apparatus 20 may have a housing
22 and/or a cable 23 which may extend outward with respect to the
housing 22. The apparatus 20 may be, for example, a portable
handheld device. The cable 23 may have a connector 25 which is
opposite to the apparatus 20. The apparatus 20 may have a
programmable logical device 24 contained within the housing 22. The
programmable logical device 24 may be connected to the cable 23.
The programmable logical device 24 may be, for example, a
micro-controller, a microprocessor and/or the like. Alternatively,
the housing 22 of the apparatus 20 may have a light emitting port
26 which may emit, for example, an infrared light. The programmable
logical device 24 may be connected to, may be in communication with
and/or may control the light emitting port 26. The present
invention should not be deemed as limited to the embodiments of a
specific programmable logical device 24 of the apparatus 20.
[0050] The apparatus 20 may have a user interface 28 on an exterior
surface 30 of the housing 22. The user interface 28 may be
connected to and/or may be in communication with the programmable
logical device 24 within the housing 22. The user interface 28 may
control and/or may instruct the programmable logical device 24. The
user interface 28 may have, for examples, buttons 32a-32j extending
outward with respect to the housing 22 of the apparatus 20 as shown
in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the user interface 28 may be, for
example, a touch-screen monitor (not shown in the drawings), one or
more switches (not shown in the drawings), one or ore dials (not
shown in the drawings) and/or the like. The present invention
should not be deemed as limited to the embodiments of a specific
user interface 28 of the apparatus 20.
[0051] The apparatus 20 may have a power source 34 which may be
connected to the programmable logical device 24 as shown in FIG. 1.
The power source 34 may be, for example, internal within the
housing 22 of the apparatus 20. The power source 34 may provide a
voltage to the programmable logical device 24 of the apparatus 20.
The voltage may be, for example, 1.5 volts, 9 volts, 110 volts. The
programmable logical device 24 may be programmed to have an
operational voltage. The voltage provided by the power source 34
may correspond to the operational voltage of the programmable
logical device 24. As a result, the programmable logical device 24
may be activated by and/or may be operate with the voltage provide
from the power source 34. The power source 34 may be a fuel cell, a
solar cell or a battery, such as, for example, a non-rechargeable
battery, a rechargeable battery, a replaceable battery, a
nickel-metal hydride battery, an alkaline battery and/or the like.
Alternatively, the power source 34 may be external and/or may plug
into a wall socket (not shown in the drawings) to provide an
electrical power supply or voltage to the programmable logical
device 24. The present invention should not be deemed as limited to
the embodiments of a specific power source 34 of the apparatus
20.
[0052] The apparatus 20 may have a power controller 36 which may
extend outward with respect to the exterior surface 30 of the
housing 22. The power controller 36 may be located between and/or
may be in series with the power source 34 and the programmable
logical device 24. Further, the power controller 36 may connect the
power source 34 to the programmable logical device 24. The power
controller 36 may control the voltage supplied to and/or provided
to the programmable logical device 24 from the power source 34. The
power controller 36 may be, for example, a switch, a button, a dial
and/or the like. In an on position of the power controller 36, the
power source 34 may provide and/or may supply the voltage to the
programmable logical device 24. In an off position of the power
controller 36, the power source 34 may be prevented from providing
and/or may be prevented from supplying the voltage to the
programmable logical device 24 by the power controller 36. The
present invention should not be deemed as limited to the
embodiments of a specific power controller 36 of the apparatus
20.
[0053] The voltage of the power source 34 may be supplied
continuously to and/or may be uninterrupted to the programmable
logical device 24. As a result, the voltage received by the
programmable logical device 24 may be received continuously and/or
may be uninterrupted. Further, the power source 34 may prevent an
interruption in the voltage provided to the programmable logical
device 24. Further, the continuous and uninterrupted voltage from
the power source 34 may prevent an interruption in a buffering
performed by the processing unit 13 of the printer 12. As a result,
the power source 34 may prevent the printer 12 from locking and/or
from malfunctioning from an interruption in the buffering performed
by the processing unit 13 of the printer 12. The power source 34
may prevent the printer 12 and/or the apparatus 20 from requiring,
for example, restarting, resetting and/or reprogramming. As a
result, the printer 12 may test the cartridge 10 without
interruption and/or to completion. Moreover, the apparatus 20 may
be reset and/or may be restarted by disconnecting the power source
34 from the programmable logical device 24 and/or deactivating the
apparatus 20 with the power controller 36.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the apparatus 20 may have a first
light emitting diode (hereinafter "LED") 38 and/or a second LED 40.
The first LED 38 and/or the second LED 40 may extend outward with
respect to the exterior surface 30 of the apparatus 20. The
programmable logical device 24 may be programmed to activate or
deactivate the first LED 38 and/or the second LED 40. The first LED
38 and/or the second LED 40 may be connected to and/or may be
controlled by the programmable logical device 24 and/or the user
interface 28. The programmable logical device 24 may transmit
and/or may communicate a signal and/or a voltage to the first LED
38 and/or the second LED 40. The signal and/or the voltage may
activate and/or may illuminate the first LED 38 and/or the second
LED 40. In an activated state, the first LED 38 and/or the second
LED 40 may emit light outward with respect to the housing 22 of the
apparatus 20.
[0055] The connector 25 of the cable 23 may be configured to be
insertable into and/or to be connectable to the port 14 of the
printer 12. The apparatus 20 may be attached to, may be connected
to and/or may be coupled with the printer 12 via the connector 25
of the cable 23 and/or the port 14 of the printer 12. The
programmable logical device 24 may be programmed to communicate
with and/or to control the printer 12. As a result, the
programmable logical device 24 of the apparatus 20 may be
connected, may be in communication with and/or may be coupled to
the processing unit 13 of the printer 12. Alternatively, the
apparatus 20 may be position adjacent to the port 14 of the printer
12. The light emitting port 26 of the apparatus 20 may be within a
range of the port 14 of the printer 12. The light emitting port 26
may transmit a signal and/or a transmission to the port 14 of the
printer 12. As a result, the programmable logical unit 24 of the
apparatus 20 may be connected to and/or may be in communication
with the processing unit 13 of the printer 12.
[0056] The user (not shown in the drawings) may activate or
deactivate the apparatus 20 with the power controller 36. Further,
the user may utilize the user interface 28 and/or one or more of
the buttons 32a-32jto operate and/or to activate the apparatus 20.
As a result, the user may control, may communicate with and/or may
instruct the programmable logical device 24 with the user interface
28 and/or one or more of the buttons 32a-32j. The user may select
and/or may press one or more of the buttons 32a-32jon the external
surface 30 of the housing 22 of the apparatus 20. Each of the
buttons 32a-32jmay correspond to a command for testing the
cartridge 10 within the printer 12. The programmable logical device
24 may be programmed with the commands corresponding to each of the
buttons 32a-32jand/or with tests for testing the cartridge 10 of
the printer 12. Each command may correspond to one of the tests,
such as, for example, a post test and/or a yield test for testing
the cartridge 10. Pressing one of the buttons 32a-32jmay send
and/or may transmit a signal and/or a transmission corresponding to
the command to the programmable logical device 24. The programmable
logical device 24 may understand, may identify and/or may recognize
the command, the signal and/or the transmission. As a result, the
programmable logical device 24 may transmit, may communicate and/or
may send a signal and/or a transmission to the processing unit 13
of the printer 12 via the port 14 of the printer 12. The signal
and/or the transmission from the programmable logical device 24 may
instruct, may control and/or may signal the processing unit 13 to
test the cartridge 10 with the post test and/or the yield test.
[0057] Before printing a page of paper, the processing unit 13 may
transmit a signal or a transmission to the cartridge 10. The signal
may cause a pair of motors (not shown in the drawings) of the
cartridge 10 to move and/or to pulse before the cartridge 10 may
print the page of paper. The moving and/or the pulsing of the
cartridge aligns the pair of motors prior to the cartridge 10
printing the page of paper. After the pair of motors are aligned,
the processing unit 13 may buffer and/or may transmit printing
instructions to the cartridge 10, and the cartridge 10 may print
one or more pages of paper. A pulsing during the yield test may
determine, may indicate and/or may affect the longevity of the
cartridge 10.
[0058] The command selected by the user with one of the buttons
32a-32dmay correspond to a pulse test for testing the cartridge 10
of the printer 12. The programmable logical device 24 may recognize
the pulse test selected by the user and/or may communicate and/or
may transmit a signal corresponding to the pulse test to the
processing unit 13 of the printer 12. The pulse test may instruct
the processing unit 13 to pulse the cartridge 10 and/or to
subsequently buffer and/or to provide printing instructions to the
cartridge 10. As a result of the pulse test, the cartridge 10 may
be pulsed and may print one or more test pages of paper.
[0059] For example, the button 32a may correspond to a command for
a one-page pulse test. The button 32a may be selected for the
one-page pulse test. As a result, a command for the one-page pulse
test may be transmitted to the programmable logical device 24 of
the apparatus 20. The programmable logical device 24 may identify
and/or may recognize the command. The programmable logical device
24 may transmit and/or may send a signal to the processing unit 13
of the printer 12 via the cable 23 or the light emitting port 14 of
the apparatus 20 and the port 14 of the printer 12. The signal may
instruct the processing unit 13 to perform and/or to execute the
one-page pulse test. As a result, the processing unit 13 may pulse
the cartridge 10 to align the pair of motors of the cartridge 10,
and the cartridge 10 may print a test page of paper.
[0060] The buttons 32b, 32c and 32d may correspond to, for example,
commands for a three-page pulse test, a five hundred page straight
test and a one thousand page straight test, respectively. One of
the buttons 32b, 32c or 32d may be pressed and/or may be selected
by the user. As a result, the command for the three-page pulse
test, the five hundred page pulse test or the one thousand page
pulse test may be transmitted to, may be recognized by and/or may
be identified by the programmable logical device 24 of the
apparatus 20. The programmable logical device 24 may transmit
and/or may communicate a signal for the three-page pulse test, the
five hundred page pulse test or the one thousand page pulse test to
the processing unit 13 of the printer 12. As a result, the
processing unit 13 may pulse the cartridge 10 and the cartridge 10
may print three test pages, five hundred test pages or one thousand
test pages of paper, respectively. It should be understood that the
buttons 32a-32d may instruct the processing unit 13 and/or the
cartridge 10 of the printer 12 to perform and/or to execute any
pulse test and/or any straight test that are generally known and
may be implemented by one having ordinary skill in the art.
[0061] After one of the buttons 32a-32d have been pressed, the
programmable logical device 24 may transmit a signal and/or a
voltage to the first LED 38 or the second LED 40, respectively. The
signal and/or the voltage from the programmable logical device 24
may activate the first LED 38 or the second LED 40. The first LED
38 and/or the second LED 40 may emit light to indicate that the
test corresponding to one of the buttons 32a-32d may have been
selected and/or may be executed by the printer 12. It should be
understood that programmable logical device 24 may activate the
first LED 38 and/or the second LED 40 to indicate that any pulse
test and/or any straight test may have been selected and/or may be
executed that are generally known and may be implemented by one
having ordinary skill in the art.
[0062] Each of the buttons 32e-32j may correspond to a command for
a yield test. The programmable logical device 24 may be programmed
with commands for the yield tests corresponding to each of the
buttons 32e-32j. Pressing one of the buttons 32e-32j may send, may
communicate and/or may transmit a signal corresponding to the
command to the programmable logical device 24. The command and/or
the signal may be recognized, may be identified and/or may be
understood by the programmable logical device 24. The programmable
logical device 24 may transmit, may communicate and/or may send a
signal to the processing unit 13 of the printer 12 via the cable 23
or the light emitting port 26 of the apparatus 20 and/or the port
14 of the printer 12. The processing unit 13 of the printer 12 may
recognize, may identify and/or may understand the signal received
from the programmable logical device 24. The signal may instruct
the processing unit 13 and the cartridge 10 to perform and/or to
execute the yield test which corresponds to the signal from the
programmable logical device 24 and/or the command from one of the
buttons 32e-32j.
[0063] The yield test may instruct the printer 12 to print one or
more test pages of paper. The test pages of paper may be, for
example, one or more black test pages of paper, one or more colored
test pages of paper, one or more gray test pages of paper, one or
more test pages of paper containing text and/or one or more blank
test pages of paper. Further, the test pages may be, for example,
one or more three-percent blackened test pages of paper, one or
more three-percent single color test pages of paper, one or more
five-percent blackened test pages of paper and/or one or more
five-percent single color test pages of paper. Moreover, the test
pages may be one or more thirty-percent blackened test pages of
paper, one or more thirty-percent single color test pages of paper,
one or more multicolor test pages of paper and/or the like.
[0064] For example, the user may press the button 32j which may
correspond to a command for a gray page test. As a result, the
button 32j may send, may communicate and/or may transmit a signal
to the programmable logical device 24. The programmable logical
device 24 may understand, may recognize and/or may identify the
signal to correspond to the gray page test. As set forth above for
the pulse test, the programmable logical device 24 may transmit,
may communicate and/or may send a signal to the processing unit 13
of the printer 12. The processing unit 13 may understand, may
recognize and/or may identify the signal corresponding to the gray
page test. The cartridge 10 and the processing unit 13 may execute
the gray page test. As a result, the printer 12 may print one or
more gray test pages which may have a shading between a blank page
and a page covered with toner.
[0065] The buttons 32e-32i may correspond to a five-percent toner
yield test, a three-percent toner yield test, an all character
yield test, a blank yield test and a black yield test,
respectively. The toner may be, for example, black toner, toner of
a single color and/or toners of more than one color. Similar to
that set forth above for the gray page test, pressing or selecting
the button 32e may instruct the printer 12 to print one or more
test pages which may have five percent of the page or pages covered
with toner. Further, pressing or selecting the button 32f may
instruct the printer 12 to print one or more test pages which may
have three percent of the page or pages covered with toner. Still
further, pressing or selecting the button 32g may instruct the
printer 12 to print one or more test pages which may have all
standard characters of a computer keyboard (not shown in the
drawings) covering the page or pages. Moreover, pressing or
selecting the button 32h may instruct the printer 12 to print one
or more test pages which may have no toner thereon. Furthermore,
pressing or selecting the button 32i may instruct the printer 12 to
print one or more test pages which may be covered with toner. The
user may select the number of test pages printed by the printer 12
during the yield test by selecting and/or by pressing one of the
buttons 32a-32d. Selecting and/or pressing one of the buttons
32e-32j and the button 32a may instruct the printer 12 to execute
and/or to perform one of the yield tests and print a single test
page of the yield test. Further, selecting and/or pressing one of
the buttons 32e-32j and the button 32b may instruct the printer 12
to execute and/or to perform one of the yield tests and print three
test pages of the yield test. Still further, selecting and/or
pressing one of the buttons 32e-32 jand the button 32c may instruct
the printer 12 to execute and/or to perform one of the yield tests
and print five hundred test pages of the yield test. Moreover,
selecting and/or pressing one of the buttons 32e-32j and the button
32d may instruct the printer 12 to execute and/or to perform one of
the yield tests and print one thousand test pages of the yield
test.
[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface 328 in another
embodiment of the present invention. The user interface 328 may
have buttons 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 which may
be depressed to test the cartridge 10. Further, the user interface
328 may have a first light emitting diode (hereinafter "LED") 320,
a second LED 322 and/or a third LED 324. The programmable logical
device 24 may be programmed to activate or deactivate the first LED
320, the second LED 322 and/or the third LED 324. The first LED
320, the second LED 322 and/or the third LED 324 may be connected
to and/or may be controlled by the programmable logical device 24
and/or the user interface 328. The programmable logical device 24
may transmit and/or may communicate a signal and/or a voltage to
the first LED 320, the second LED 322 and/or the third LED 324. The
signal and/or the voltage may activate and/or may illuminate the
first LED 320, the second LED 322 and/or the third LED 324. In an
activated state, the first LED 320, the second LED 322 and/or the
third LED 324 may emit light.
[0067] The user may utilize the user interface 328 to activate the
apparatus 20. As a result, the user may control, may communicate
with and/or may instruct the programmable logical device 24 with
the user interface 328 and/or one or more of the buttons 302, 304,
306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318. Each of the buttons 302, 304,
306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 may correspond to a command for
testing the cartridge 10 within the printer 12. The programmable
logical device 24 may be programmed with the commands corresponding
to each of the buttons 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318
and/or with tests for testing the cartridge 10 of the printer 12.
Each command may correspond to one of the tests, such as, for
example, a pulse test and/or a yield test for testing the cartridge
10. Pressing one of the buttons 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314,
316, 318 may send and/or may transmit a signal and/or a
transmission corresponding to the command to the programmable
logical device 24. The programmable logical device 24 may
understand, may identify and/or may recognize the command, the
signal and/or the transmission. As a result, the programmable
logical device 24 may transmit, may communicate and/or may send a
signal and/or a transmission to the processing unit 13 of the
printer 12 via the port 14 of the printer 12. The signal and/or the
transmission from the programmable logical device 24 may instruct,
may control and/or may signal the processing unit 13 to test the
cartridge 10 with the pulse test and/or the yield test. The command
selected by the user with one of the buttons 302, 304, 306, 308,
310, 312, 314, 316, 318 may correspond to a pulse test for testing
the cartridge 10 of the printer 12. The programmable logical device
24 may recognize the pulse test selected by the user and/or may
communicate and/or may transmit a signal corresponding to the pulse
test to the processing unit 13 of the printer 12. The pulse test
may instruct the processing unit 13 to pulse the cartridge 10
and/or to subsequently buffer and/or to provide printing
instructions to the cartridge 10. As a result of the pulse test,
the cartridge 10 may be pulsed and may print one or more test pages
of paper. For example, the buttons 302, 304, 306 may correspond to
a command for a ten percent yield test, a five percent yield test
and/or a landscape test, respectively. The buttons 308, 310 may
correspond to a command for a text print test and/or a graph print
test, respectively. The buttons 312, 314 may correspond to a
command for a black print test and/or a gray page test,
respectively. The buttons 316, 318 may correspond to a command for
a three-page pulse test and/or a one-page pulse test, respectively.
The programmable logical device 24 may identify and/or may
recognize the command. The programmable logical device 24 may
transmit and/or may send a signal to the processing unit 13 of the
printer 12 via the cable 23 or the light emitting port 14 of the
apparatus 20 and the port 14 of the printer 12. The signal may
instruct the processing unit 13 to perform and/or to execute the
one-page pulse test. It should be understood that the buttons 302,
304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 may instruct the processing
unit 13 and/or the cartridge 10 of the printer 12 to perform and/or
to execute any pulse test and/or any straight test that are
generally known and may be implemented by one having ordinary skill
in the art.
[0068] The first LED 320 and/or the second LED 322 may correspond
to and/or may be controlled be the buttons 316, 318, respectively.
The buttons 316, 318 may be depressed to select a command for a
test, such as, for example, the three-page pulse test and/or the
one-page pulse test, respectively. The programmable logical device
24 may identify the command and/or may activate the first LED 320
and/or the second LED 322 to indicate that the buttons 316, 318,
respectively, were depressed. As a result, the first LED 320 and/or
the second LED 322 may emit light to indicate that the buttons 316,
318 were selected. The third LED 324 may be controlled and/or may
be in communication with the power source 34. The programmable
logical device 24 may determine that the power source 34 may have a
low electrical charge. The programable logical device 24 may
activate the third LED 324 to indicate that the electrical power
stored in the power source may be low. As a result, the third Led
324 may emit light to indicate that the electrical power stored in
the power source may be low. It should be understood that
programmable logical device 24 may activate the first LED 320
and/or the second LED 322 to indicate that any pulse test and/or
any straight test may have been selected and/or may be executed
that are generally known and may be implemented by one having
ordinary skill in the art.
[0069] The user may review one or more of the test pages printed by
the printer 12 during one of the post tests and/or one of the yield
tests. The user may examine and/or may review an appearance of one
or more of the test pages printed by the cartridge 10. A defect in
the appearance of one or more of the test pages may indicate that
the cartridge 10 is defective and/or has been damaged from the
pulsing of the cartridge 10. Further, the user may examine and/or
may review a consistency of toner on one or more of the test pages.
An inconsistency of the toner of one or more test pages may
indicate that the cartridge 10 may be defective and/or may have
been damaged by the pulsing of the cartridge 10. The user may
discard and/or may destroy the cartridge 10 which may be defective
and/or damaged from the pulsing of the cartridge 10. Alternatively,
the user may correct the defect of the cartridge 10 and/or may
repair the damage to the cartridge 10.
[0070] The apparatus 20 and/or the system 2 may test the cartridge
10 having toner therein for defects. The apparatus 20 and/or the
system 2 may be attached and/or may be connected to the printer 12
containing the cartridge 10 via the port 14 of the printer 12. The
apparatus 20 and/or the system 2 may communicate, may instruct
and/or may control the printer 12. The apparatus 20 and/or the
system 2 may transmit, may send and/or may communicate a signal
and/or a transmission to the printer 12 via the port 14. The
printer 12 may print one or more test pages of paper to test the
quality, the effectiveness, the longevity and/or the durability of
the cartridge 10. A user may inspect and/or may review a
consistency of the toner on and/or the appearance of one or more of
the test pages to determine whether the cartridge 10 is defective
and/or has been damaged by pulsing from the printer 12.
[0071] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described
herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention and without diminishing its
attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes
and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *